Reston, Virginia – A tragic incident unfolded at Gold’s Gym in Reston, Virginia, where 31-year-old Hyong Joon Choi was fatally shot on Monday afternoon. The shooting occurred around 1:15 p.m., according to the Fairfax County Police.
The alleged shooter, identified as 43-year-old Steve Ha from Chantilly, Virginia, fled the scene but was apprehended by law enforcement later that evening. Ha has since been charged with second-degree murder. While the authorities have confirmed that the shooting was targeted, they have not yet released a motive.
This tragic event marks the third gym shooting in the D.C.-Maryland-Virginia area since April, with previous incidents occurring in Lanham and Alexandria. The CEO of Gold’s Gym Metro D.C., Matt Clifford, expressed his deep condolences to the family of Hyong Joon Choi and extended gratitude to law enforcement for their swift response. Clifford also noted that both Choi and Ha were members of the gym and had adhered to its security protocols.
As of now, no legal representation for Ha has been identified, and attempts to contact his family have been unsuccessful. The community is left grappling with this senseless act of violence as they mourn the loss of Hyong Joon Choi.